MARIETTA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team split a pair of games with No. 5 nationally-ranked Marietta College in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader on Don and Sue Schaly Field.
Marietta (17-3, 15-2 OAC) won the first game in 10 innings by a final score of 7-6. BW (13-8-1, 10-5-1 OAC) rallied in the ninth inning to take the nightcap by a final score of 11-7.
In game one, BW scored six runs on 10 hits as it plated two runs in the third off the homerun from senior All-American center fielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside), one in the fourth and three in the seventh, including two on the triple by junior left fielder Drew Wilson (Sagamore Hills /Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy). The Pioneers scored seven runs on 15 hits as they pushed two runs across the plate in the first, one in the third, two in the eighth and one in the ninth and one in the 10th.
The Yellow Jacket offense was keyed by Taw as he went 3-for-4 with a double, homer, two runs scored and two runs batted-in (RBI). Sophomore designated hitter Bryce Holt (Richfield/Revere) was 2-for-3. Five other BW hitters accounted for a base knock.
On the mound, sophomore left hander Nik Baldis (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) got the start and no decision as he allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks in three innings. Senior Academic All-OAC righty Scott Kirchhoff (Toledo/Sylvania Northview) pitched 1.2 innings and did not allow a run on one hit with a strikeout and a walk. Sophomore right hander Ethan Boyko (North Royalton) pitched 1.1 innings and did not allow a run on one hit. Junior righty Maxwell Cebulak (Oakmont, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) pitched one inning and did not allow a run on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Wilson took the loss after moving to the mount from left field as he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 2.2 innings.
In game two, BW scored 11 runs on 12 hits as it plated two runs in the second, one in the third, two in the sixth on the home run by Taw and erupted for six in the ninth. Marietta scored seven runs on 10 hits as it pushed two runs across the plate in the second, one in the third, one in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the eighth.
The Yellow Jackets were led at the plate by senior right fielder Jacob Bonner (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) as he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Taw was 2-for-3 with a homer, two runs scored, three RBIs and two walks. Senior All-OAC shortstop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan) went 2-for-4 with one run scored, one RBI and one walk. Junior first baseman Alexis Castillo (Sunrise, Fla. / The Sagemont School) was 2-for-5.
On the mound, freshman right hander Drew Schaly (Ashland) got his first collegiate start and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Freshman righty Anthony Monaco III (Struthers) allowed two runs on two hits with a walk in a third of an inning. Senior right hander Max Adams (Massillon/Washington) allowed one run on two hits with a walk in 2.1 innings. Junior righty Clay Anderson (Garfield Heights/Trinity) pitched a third of an inning and did not allow a run or hit with one walk. Ludwick got the win as he moved from shortstop to the mound and pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
BW closes out its weekend series with Marietta on Sunday, April 18 when it hosts the Pioneers for an OAC doubleheader on Fisher Field at 1 p.m.